Everyone has heard the phrase “beauty sleep” used in everyday conversation, but did you know that getting more sleep does actually make people more beautiful? When people are sleep deprived, the consequences show in their physical appearance. A lack of sleep has been linked to depression, exhaustion, and weight gain – all of which are hard to outwardly hide.

The more time a person spends sleeping, the more likely they are to appear well rested and healthy. A study done in Sweden last year gave more insight on how sleep affects beauty. Twenty-three participants were photographed after a normal night’s sleep and then again after a night in which they were deprived of sleep. Sixty-five observers who got to share their opinion of the appearance of each person then rated participants. As it turns out, the photos of sleep-deprived people were rated as less healthy, less attractive, and more tired.

Getting your much-needed beauty sleep also has positive affects on your skin. Because of a slight drop in body temperature during sleep, your circulatory system helps blood flow to your skin. This is why people who sleep more are less likely to have wrinkles in the neck and face.

Additionally, sleep plays an extremely important role in your body’s metabolism. When we are sleeping, the body releases growth hormones and melatonin, which aid body tissues and act as antioxidants. A lack of sleep causes these hormones to remain dormant, and the body will not be able to perform normal metabolic functions. This means that digesting certain foods, like carbohydrates, will not be easy for your body to do.

Instead of healthy hormones being released, a lack of sleep causes cortisol to flow through the body. This stress hormone causes increased appetite, and since your body has slowed in digesting carbohydrates, blood sugar levels typically rise. A rise in insulin levels tells your body to store unused energy as fat. Therefore, people who get enough sleep every night have higher metabolisms, better bodily functions, and will not gain as much weight as those who are sleep-deprived.

So next time you tell someone that you have to catch up on your beauty sleep, remember that you actually will be a more attractive person in the morning!